HC Deb 14 July 1995 vol 263 cc841-2W
Mr. Ian McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployment benefit claimants were disqualified from benefit and(a) were in receipt and (b) were not in receipt of a reduced rate of income support during the disqualification period, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for each quarter since April 1994, indicating those whose unemployment benefit was disqualified for (i) leaving employment voluntarily, (ii) being dismissed for misconduct and (iii) refusal of employment. [32593]

Mr. Roger Evans

The latest available information is set out in the tables. The information requested on refusal of employment is not kept separately.

Income Support recipients whose benefit is reduce because of voluntary unemployment or misconduct
Region May 1994 August 1994
North eastern 4,000 5,000
London north 5,000 7,000
London south 3,000 6,000
South western 3,000 3,000
Midlands 6,000 7,000
North western 3,000 4,000
Scotland 3,000 3,000
Wales 1,000 2,000
Total 27,000 37,000

Notes:

  1. 1 Figures are at a point in time.
  2. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and so may not sum to the total given,.
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Source:

Income Support Quarterly Inquiries for May and August 1994.

Unemployed Claimants disqualified because of voluntary unemployment or misconduct and receiving neither Unemployment Benefit nor Income Support as at May and November 1994
Refused for leaving work voluntarily Refused for losing work through misconduct
May 1994 1,800 600
November 1994 2,200 500

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

Source:

Table 2.2 of Half-yearly analysis of Unemployed Claimants for May and November 1994.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will re-examine the rules on severe hardship payments in respect of young people denied financial help from their families though their relationships have not irretrievably broken down. [32833]

Mr. Roger Evans

No. Benefits Agency officers take all the relevant factors into account when deciding whether a young person is at risk of severe hardship. Among the factors considered would be the young person's relationship with their parents and whether they were being provided with any financial or other support.